Editing Buster Mathis

{{Short description|American boxer (1943–1995)}}
{{Infobox boxer
|name = Buster Mathis
|realname = Buster Mathis
|image = Buster Mathis 1967.jpg
| caption = Mathis (right) in Sweden in 1967 
|nickname =
|height = {{convert|6|ft|3|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
|reach = {{convert|76|in|cm|0|abbr=on}}
|weight = [[Heavyweight]]
|birth_date = {{birth date|1943|6|11|mf=y}}
|birth_place = [[Sledge, Mississippi]], U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|1995|9|6|1943|6|11|mf=y}}
|death_place = [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]], U.S.
|style = [[orthodox (boxing)|Orthodox]]
|total = 34
|wins = 30
|KO = 21
|losses = 4
|draws = 0
}}
'''Buster Mathis''' (June 11, 1943 – September 6, 1995<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The New York Times]]|page=B9|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/08/obituaries/buster-mathis-heavyweight-fighter-dies-at-51.html|title=Buster Mathis, Heavyweight Fighter, Dies at 51|author=Frank Litsky|date=September 8, 1995}}</ref>) was an American boxer who competed from 1965 to 1972.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buster Mathis {{!}} American boxer |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Buster-Mathis |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> He was a top contender throughout his career, beating other top contenders including [[George Chuvalo]] and [[Chuck Wepner]].<ref name="Buster Mathis Jr: Record & Stats">{{Cite web |date=2023-05-12 |title=Buster Mathis Jr: Record & Stats |url=https://www.martialbot.com/boxing/b/buster-mathis-jr.html |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=www.martialbot.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MATHIS, BUSTER-GEORGE CHUVALO WIRE PHOTO (1969) |url=https://www.josportsinc.com/products/mathis-buster-george-chuvalo-wire-photo-1969 |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=JO Sports Inc. |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=All of Chuck Wepner's Losses |url=https://www.martialbot.com/boxing/c/chuck-wepner/losses.html#:~:text=Chuck%20Wepner%20loses%20to%20Buster,of%204-1-2. |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=www.martialbot.com}}</ref> He fought Heavyweight greats such as [[Muhammad Ali]], [[Joe Frazier]], [[Jerry Quarry]] and [[Ron Lyle]];<ref name="Buster Mathis Jr: Record & Stats"/><ref>{{Citation |title=Muhammad Ali vs. Buster Mathis |date=2023-05-06 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Muhammad_Ali_vs._Buster_Mathis&oldid=1153481156 |work=Wikipedia |access-date=2023-05-21 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Frazier vs Mathis Boxing Stats |url=https://boxstat.co/bout/367321/joe-frazier-vs-buster-mathis |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=boxstat.co |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Buster Mathis Jr.'s Best Fights |url=https://www.martialbot.com/boxing/b/buster-mathis-jr/best-fights.html |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=www.martialbot.com}}</ref> he also notably beat Joe Frazier as an amateur to qualify for the Olympics but was later replaced due to a hand injury.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moyle |first=Clay |date=2007-07-30 |title=Joe Frazier (1944-2011) |url=https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/frazier-joe-1944/ |access-date=2023-05-20 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Joe Frazier {{!}} Biography & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joe-Frazier |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Career==
[[File:Buster Mathis vs Roberto Davila 1967.jpg|thumb|left|Mathis (back) vs. Roberto Davila in 1967]]
Mathis had a successful career as an amateur [[heavyweight]] [[boxing|boxer]]. He qualified for a spot in the [[1964 Summer Olympics|1964 Tokyo Olympics]] but had to withdraw due to an injury. He was replaced in the tournament by [[Joe Frazier]], who went on to win the gold medal.

Mathis turned professional in June 1965 with a second round [[knockout]] victory over Bob Maynard. He went on to win his next 22 contests as well and qualified for a shot at the [[New York State Athletic Commission]] World Heavyweight Title, which had become vacant after [[Muhammad Ali]] was stripped of the title for refusing to be [[Conscription|drafted]] into the [[United States Army]].<ref name=boxrec/>

The title fight was held on March 4, 1968, in [[New York City|New York]]'s [[Madison Square Garden]] against "Smoking" [[Joe Frazier]], his old rival. Frazier won by an 11th-round knockout.{{Citation needed|date= April 2018}}

Mathis continued to fight in the following years, outpointing [[George Chuvalo]], but losing on points to [[Jerry Quarry]] - a fight Mathis was favored to win. Mathis retired after losing to Quarry in 1969, but he returned in 1971 to box [[Muhammad Ali]] for the [[North American Boxing Federation|NABF]] belt, losing on points over 12 rounds.<ref name=boxrec/> Ali was later criticized for not finishing Mathis in the final rounds of the fight.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1085581/index.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721221556/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1085581/index.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 21, 2012 | magazine=Sports Illustrated | title=Got To Look Good To Allah | date=1971-11-09 | access-date=2012-02-15 | first1=Tex | last1=Maule}}</ref>

After Mathis was knocked out in just two rounds in September 1972 by [[Ron Lyle]], he retired for good.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bokssport.com/the-buster-mathis-story/|title=Buster Mathis Story {{!}} Bokssport {{!}} Train with Buster Mathis in Grand Rapids|website=Bokssport|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204021256/https://www.bokssport.com/the-buster-mathis-story/|archive-date=2019-02-04|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Retirement==
A 1980 ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' article featured interviews with Mathis and many of Muhammad Ali's other opponents.{{Citation needed|date= April 2018}} It reported Mathis worked in the trucking business after he retired from the ring. {{Citation needed|date= April 2018}}

Mathis had various health problems in later years, including two strokes, a heart attack, and kidney failure. He died of heart failure at age 52.<ref>{{cite news|title=Buster Mathis, Former Ali Opponent, Dies at 51|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=September 8, 1995}}</ref> His son [[Buster Mathis Jr.]] became a professional boxer and fought [[Mike Tyson]] in 1995.

==Professional boxing record==
{{s-start}}
|-
|align="center" colspan=8|'''30 Wins''' (21 knockouts, 9 decisions), '''4 Losses''' (2 knockouts, 2 decisions)<ref name=boxrec>{{cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=7001&cat=boxer|title=BoxRec|website=boxrec.com}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|'''Result'''
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|'''Record'''
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|'''Opponent'''
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|'''Type'''
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|'''Round'''
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|'''Date'''
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|'''Location'''
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|'''Notes'''
|-align=center
|{{no2}}Loss
|30–4
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Ron Lyle]]
|KO
|2
|29 Sep 1972
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Denver Coliseum]], [[Denver, Colorado]]
|align=left|{{small|Mathis knocked out at 2:58 of the second round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|30–3
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Humphrey McBride
|TKO
|3
|5 Sep 1972
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]]
|align=left|{{small|'''World Super Heavyweight Title'''. Referee stopped the bout at 1:34 of the third round.}}
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|29–3
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Muhammad Ali]]
|UD
|12
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Buster Mathis|17 Nov 1971]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Astrodome]], [[Houston, Texas]]
|align=left|{{small|'''[[World Boxing Council|WBC]] NABF Heavyweight Title'''.}}
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|29–2
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Jerry Quarry]]
|UD
|12
|24 Mar 1969
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Madison Square Garden]], [[New York City]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|29–1
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} [[George Chuvalo]]
|UD
|12
|3 Feb 1969
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Madison Square Garden]], [[New York City]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|28–1
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} J.J. Woody
|TKO
|6
|26 Sep 1968
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Madison Square Garden]], [[New York City]]
|align=left|{{small|Referee stopped the bout at 2:59 of the sixth round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|27–1
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Dick Wipperman
|UD
|10
|16 Sep 1968
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[County Stadium]], [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|26–1
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Amos Lincoln
|SD
|10
|5 Sep 1968
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Olympic Auditorium]], [[Los Angeles, California]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|25–1
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} J.J. Beattie
|TKO
|7
|25 Jul 1968
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Met Center]], [[Bloomington, Minnesota]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|24–1
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} M.J. Turnbow
|TKO
|7
|30 Apr 1968
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Miami Beach Auditorium]], [[Miami Beach, Florida]]
|align=left|{{small|Referee stopped the bout at 2:44 of the seventh round.}}
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|23–1
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Joe Frazier]]
|TKO
|11
|4 Mar 1968
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Madison Square Garden]], [[New York City]]
|align=left|{{small|'''[[NYSAC]] World Heavyweight Title'''. Referee stopped the bout at 2:33 of the 11th round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|23–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} Gerry de Bruyn
|KO
|1
|26 Dec 1967
|align=left|{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Frolundaborg]], [[Gothenburg]]
|align=left|{{small|Bruyn knocked out at 0:36 of the first round.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfUQGwjJk6Q |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/WfUQGwjJk6Q| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=SYND 27 12 67 35 Second Heavyweight Boxing Match Between Buster Mathis and Gerry de Bruyn |last=AP Archive|date=24 July 2015|publisher=|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|Peru}} Roberto Davila
|TKO
|7
|18 Nov 1967
|align=left|{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Johanneshov]], [[Stockholm]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Ron Marsh
|TKO
|4
|18 Sep 1967
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Madison Square Garden]], [[New York City]]
|align=left|{{small|Referee stopped the bout at 1:13 of the fourth round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Wayne Heath
|KO
|5
|2 Aug 1967
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena]], [[Los Angeles, California]]
|align=left|{{small|Heath knocked out at 1:16 of the fifth round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Sonny S.D. Moore
|TKO
|5
|23 May 1967
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Saint Louis, Missouri]]
|align=left|{{small|Referee stopped the bout at 2:09 of the fifth round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Ed "Baker Boy" Hurley
|KO
|1
|12 May 1967
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Waban Thomas
|KO
|1
|6 Feb 1967
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Astrodome]], [[Houston, Texas]]
|align=left|{{small|Thomas knocked out at 2:23 of the first round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} E.S. Andrews
|KO
|2
|17 Nov 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Portland Exposition Building]], [[Portland, Maine]]
|align=left|{{small|Andrews knocked out at 2:10 of the second round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} Johnny Barazza
|KO
|1
|2 Nov 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Civic Center]], [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Earl Averette
|TKO
|3
|28 Sep 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Cambria County War Memorial Arena]], [[Johnstown, Pennsylvania]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Bob Stallings
|SD
|10
|15 Sep 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Armory (military)|Armory]], [[Akron, Ohio]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Mert Brownfield
|KO
|1
|29 Aug 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Cobo Arena]], [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} Charley E. Chase
|UD
|6
|28 Jul 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Portland Exposition Building]], [[Portland, Maine]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Everett Copeland
|KO
|2
|23 Jun 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Madison Square Garden]], [[New York City]]
|align=left|{{small|Copeland knocked out at 2:27 of the second round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Tom Swift
|KO
|1
|16 Jun 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Portland Exposition Building]], [[Portland, Maine]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Charley Polite
|PTS
|6
|16 Feb 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Westchester County Center]], [[White Plains, New York]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Mike Bruce
|TKO
|5
|19 Jan 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Westchester County Center]], [[White Plains, New York]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Chuck Wepner]]
|TKO
|3
|7 Jan 1966
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Madison Square Garden]], [[New York City]]
|align=left|{{small|Referee stopped the bout at 1:58 of the third round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Charlie Lee
|PTS
|6
|15 Dec 1965
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Westchester County Center]], [[White Plains, New York]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} Bob Stallings
|UD
|6
|23 Sep 1965
|align=left|{{flagicon|United States|1960|size=23px}} [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} Bob Maynard
|PTS
|4
|30 Aug 1965
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} [[Paul Sauve Arena]], [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]]
|align=left|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} Johnny Shore
|TKO
|2
|28 Aug 1965
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} [[Rock Island, Quebec]]
|align=left|{{small|Referee stopped the bout at 2:45 of the second round.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–0
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} Bob Maynard
|TKO
|2
|28 Jun 1965
|align=left|{{flagicon|Canada|size=23px}} [[Paul Sauve Arena]], [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]]
|align=left|
{{s-end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Buster Mathis}}
* {{Boxrec|id=7001}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathis, Buster}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:1995 deaths]]
[[Category:Boxers from Mississippi]]
[[Category:Heavyweight boxers]]
[[Category:Winners of the United States Championship for amateur boxers]]
[[Category:People from Sledge, Mississippi]]
[[Category:American male boxers]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]